The Bay League boys soccer title chase looks wide open heading into today’s league openers.

While no team has established itself as the clear favorite in nonleague action, some teams have distinguished themselves more than others.

West Torrance (8-2-2), Mira Costa (10-3-3) and Palos Verdes (4-5-4) have played the most matches, which means they have gone deep into tournaments.

That should prove beneficial in league play and could mean those teams are further ahead at this point than Redondo (1-3-2) and Leuzinger (0-2-1). Peninsula also has been fairly busy with a 5-4-1 mark.

West, which finished 17th in the South Torrance Tournament and had forward Tyler Krumpe make the all-tournament team, is riding a four-match winning streak heading into today’s Bay League opener against visiting Peninsula at 3 p.m. The Warriors would have benefitted from playing rival South on Saturday as one last tune-up before league, but heavy rain Friday night made South’s field unplayable and the game was canceled.

Mira Costa, which took fifth place in the tournament and had defender Danny Mishler make the all-tournament team, has as good a chance as anyone of capturing the league title.

And you can’t count out defending league champion Palos Verdes, which has struggled at times with seven first-year starters, but managed to reach the South Torrance Tournament final.

Goalkeeper Andrew Sakura, defender Jonah Batista and forward Kevin Morgan were all-tournament selections at South for Palos Verdes, which opens league play against visiting Redondo today at 3 p.m.

Up for grabs

When the Bay League boys basketball season starts this week, the only certainly seems to be that there is no favorite.

Mira Costa is vastly improved and already has more victories than it did last year. Redondo has managed a winning record despite some inconsistent moments. Peninsula played a tough nonleague schedule. Leuzinger is athletic but needs everyone contributing. West Torrance was the first team to 10 victories. Palos Verdes might be the kind of team to sneak in an upset.

Morningside senior guard Daryl Glover had a slow first half Tuesday night when the Monarchs hosted North Torrance in basketball. Part of the reason, Coach Donnell Meekins said, was that Glover had a college scout watching him and wasn’t used to performing while being evaluated.

“I told him to just relax and let his game come through,” Meekins said. “That’s what he did.”

Glover bought into it. After a first-half effort he said was embarrassing, he led a second-half comeback, capped with five points in the last minute of a 70-66 victory.

Look Ma, one hand!

When Peninsula girls basketball player Mahta Baghoolizadeh goes to the free-throw line, she knows that all eyes are on her.

Baghoolizadeh, a 5-foot-11 junior, struggled from the free-throw line last season.

Coach Dave Herold said that Baghoolizadeh’s left hand was pushing the ball as she was shooting her free throws, making for some Shaq-like moments.

Over the summer, Herold told Baghoolizadeh to practice with one hand.

Baghoolizadeh had so much success with it, she decided to stick with the one-handed approach.

“When she’d shoot a free throw last year, she’d go way down here,” Herold said, pointing below his chest, “then kind of high-arch it. Now, even with the one hand, she has pretty good form on it.”

A weighty decision

Robert Luna and Griffin Macer were among a handful of Peninsula wrestlers who started the season knowing they needed to drop weight in order to best serve their team.

Luna and Macer were slotted to wrestle at 140 pounds at the beginning of the season, but opted to shed a few pounds in order to fill gaping holes in Peninsula’s lineup.

While the transition has been a slow one, both are beginning to see results.

Macer took second place at the Atascadero Tournament, losing in the 135-pound title match. Luna finished third at 130 pounds.

“I think they are both pleased with how they can perform at that weight class,” Peninsula coach Mike Liebig said. “They are quick enough in order to do it, but strong enough that they won’t be muscled around.

“They are at the right weight class now. That’s my feeling, and I think they feel that they are at the right weight class, too.”

Coaches wanted

Even after leading his team to the L.A. City Section football final, Carson coach Mike Christensen is looking for four additional coaches to help his staff next season as the Colts try to build on their Marine League title. He said teaching positions are possible.

“We’re not losing anyone. We’re just looking for some extra guys,” Christensen said. “We’re trying to get two more guys on each side of the ball.”

Interested parties can e-mail Christensen at mec2924@lausd.net or call 310-847-6077 for more information.

Dave Thorpe is the local sports coordinator for the Daily Breeze. He has been covering local sports in the South Bay for the Daily Breeze since 2006. He previously was the sports editor at the Palos Verdes Peninsula News.

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